Friday, October 28, 2011

OPI has just released 2011's two new Designer Series additions; OPI Designer Series Bold and OPI Designer Series Temptation. Gone are the days when new Designer Series shades meant brand new holographic polishes to covet... These two new shades are pure glitter without a hint of holo.

OPI Designer Series Bold. This is a light red tinted base with medium sized light red and silver glitter. This polish looks very pink in some lights, and this is definitely a pink toned red. Not quite a coral, not really a pure red, either. The slightly tinted base looks really good mixed with the glitter as it adds depth without drowning the sparkle. The downside to this is that it's basically a duplicate of China Glaze Mrs. Claus from Holiday 2010.

OPI Designer Series Temptation. This is a total glitterbomb. There's so much glitter in here. Lots of different shapes and colors. Large purple and blue, tiny purple and blue microglitter, small sliver glitter, sometimes I think I spot some tiny pink glitter, too. The base is slightly colored purple, as if it wasn't purple enough already. The color is gorgeous and the glitter is very sparkly. It's similar in color to a few other shades, though no exact matches. Some examples of the purple/blue glitter combination are Jessica Funkytown, Sinful Colors Frenzy, Illamasqua Boo, and LA Girl Rockstar Overdose.

The formula on these was disappointing. OPI has released a lot of great glitters in the past few years, so I really hold them to a higher standard. Bold had a good formula despite being sheer. Temptation was thick as glue and extremely rough. I did three coats of each and both needed the third. If I had applied Temptation more carefully I could have gotten away with only two. Drying time is longer than average for OPI. Temptation dries extremely rough and gritty and when I wore it, it needed three coats of topcoat.

While I do like these colors, I am let down by them. They are very pretty (you know how much I love glitter), but they're not Designer Series worthy. Designer Series used to mean something special- namely, it used to mean you were getting an amazing holographic polish. In recent years, they've abandoned that whole "Diamond Dust" holographic special color thing and just started releasing normal colors, calling them Designer Series and then charging more for them. I don't know why they even bother calling it Designer Series anymore if there's nothing to set the Designer Series polishes apart from regular OPI shades.

That being said, when taken at face value, they're great colors. They're beautiful and very fun, sparkly, interesting colors. I wish that Temptation had a better formula because the day I wore it, I got two unsolicited compliments. It really is a stunning shade. I may try thinning my bottle to improve application, but I don't think that will help the scratchy rough edges and the tendency to dry like sandpaper.

I am so glad you mentioned that about Mrs. Claus, because I was wondering if they were dupes. Temptation is pretty, but I'm not sure if I'll be chasing after it, and I have to say I miss the wonderful holo DS polishes too.

Excellent review - thanks!! I now know that I can safely pass these by. Holos I want. Glitter polishes...not so much. (And others do good glitter polishes for less, so if I really need to get my glitter on, I don't have to pay $12 a bottle.)

I agree with you that it's a bummer they are calling these Designer Series! I saw the title of this post and got all excited... pretty glitters but definitely a let down. Also, 3 coats of top coat!? Yikes!

I saw Temptation in the store and wanted to buy it several times, but resisted the...haha, temptation!

I'm in the same boat as you, Scrangie. So disappointed that OPI isn't making great holos in their Designer Series like before. And, while I do think Temptation looks really pretty, I don't understand how they can justify jacking up the price for this glitter that is so thick and rough. Really wish they'd continue making holos like Extravagance. That one was killer!

That purple is so stunning, but I wouldn't get it because I am a bit wary of OPI formulas. Almost all the ones I've tried haven't been that great, so if you say this one sucks, then it probably does. So sad. I am sure they have some with amazing formulas, but I haven't found 'em! x

I am *very* tempted by Temptation. It's really gorgeous. I love glitter more than any other finish but I completely agree with you - I am very saddened by the fact that OPI has completely abandoned holographic polishes. (I heart my holos too!) Bold and Temptation shouldn't have the higher price tag - they're glitters. I never mind paying more for an awesome holo but OPI makes other glitters and doesn't charge extra for them so...why charge more for these? I hope so much they bring the holos back to the DS line. *crosses fingers*